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 January - 2004  *** Happy New Year!

Lakedale customers

Lakedale has changed their system.  Previously Lakedale had only one path out of the area, i.e., if their uplink path fails, we all loose the Internet.  They now have redundant paths to the Internet but setting this up will require them to change their IP addresses.  What does this mean to you? Click here for more information.

Old cell-phones, Eyeglasses and Ink Cartridges

If you have either of these, please do not throw them away.  We are collecting them at the store for specific charities.    Thank you...

Looking to buy a new computer?  

Here are some ideas that may help you decide: http://www.bergesch.com/bcs/newcomputer.htm

   

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If your new computer is more than *90 days old, 
or if you have not paid for a subscription within the last year,
your antivirus application is out-of-date and you are not protected. 
More details on this issue in the 0302 newsletter.

* Many new computers come with a 90 day free trial version but after that period you must pay to renew the subscription.  Wonder if your antivirus is up-to-date?  Click here 

2003 in review

We do not yet have the final count of new viruses for 2003 but in December alone, there were 53 new viruses.  This raises the number of known viruses to over 64,700!

The virus that had the most affect was the MSBlaster and variants thereafter.  This virus shutdown computers that were not protected by an antivirus application or were not patched using Microsoft's Windows Updates. 

Your New Year's Resolution: Don't become a victim!  

  • If you get a new computer, immediately enable the antivirus application by opening the icon found on the Desktop.  
  • Review the subscription date!  Many new computers come with a free 90 day trial.  If this is the case, mark your calendar and renew the subscription before it expires.
  • If you have not paid for a subscription renewal in the last 365 days, you are not protected!
  • Download and install all available Windows Security updates and turn on the Windows Security automatic notification!
  • Remember, a virus will likely come as an attachment from someone you know.
    Open attachments only if you are expecting them.  Otherwise save the attachment someplace on the computer then scan it for viruses before opening!   

Have a Wireless network?

If so and you are running Windows XP, you will want to watch for Microsoft's Service Pack 2.  Among many other fixes, WIFI security has improved.  Click here for the full article  This should be available sometime in the first half 2004. 

Don't forget, Microsoft will never send you the patch/upgrade, you must go to their site and download it!  Because this is a service pack, it will likely be very large!  If it's available as an "administrative download", we will again make it available on CD.  You can stop by the store and borrow our copy of the update (please call ahead.)

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Microsoft Word

(Varies slightly between versions)

The following "Features" can be turned on or off via Insert > Autotext > Autotext > Format As You Type tab.  If at times they are a nuisance but you don't want to turn them off, just remember Ctrl Z will Undo the automatic formatting that just occurred. So for example if you really want three dashes on a new line and not a border; press Ctrl Z immediately after the boarder appears.

Word creates different borders when you type the indicated characters on a new line followed by pressing enter.  Try these:
  • Three asterisks *** 
  • Three ### 
  • Three dashes --- 
  • Three underscores___ 
  • Three equal signs === 
  • Three tilde ~~~ 
Auto-formatting; try typing these examples followed by a space:  There are a lot more! 

Look in to the Insert > Autotext > Autotext menu.  Then under the Autocorrect, Autotext and Autoformat tabs.
  • 1/2 
  • (r) 
  • (c)
  • (tm)
  • ==>
  • any single word with an asterisk at each end, e.g., *test*

Quickly make a table:  On a new line, type a plus sign, enough dashes as to indicate the width and another plus sign then press enter.  +---------------+ 
Want two columns? Just add more dashes and another sign. +---------------+-----+ 

Digits/Decimals

Want to align a column of numbers?  Two quick ways are:

Create a table then hover the mouse over the top of the column so it appears like this, click once then click the Right Justify toolbar button.  Alternatively you can select Right Justify from the Format > Paragraph menu when the cursor is in that column.  
The second way is to use the Decimal tab.  Click the tab button until it becomes the Decimal tab shown here or from the Format > Tabs menu, select the Decimal option and if necessary, enter the position or other options desired..  

More MS Word hints are found in our database by using the key search words "word hints" (or click here.)

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 Having problems getting to secure sites  

Especially Hotmail?

Although discussed last January, loosing the ability to logon to Hotmail seems to be an even greater problem lately.  There are various problems that could cause this but below we have outlined the more common ones.  

Try this: Open the Internet Explorer then click on About in the Help menu.  Look for "Cipher Strength" and if the rating is empty or is 0 (zero), you found the problem!   Click here for the repair article.

Other things to try:  

  • From the web browser's Tools menu, select Options and in the General tab, delete all cookies, delete all temporary files including off-line pages
  • Go to the Content tab then click Auto-complete button.  Uncheck all options and click both the clear forms and clear passwords buttons.  OK your way, close the browser then re-open and test.  If it works, go back to the auto-complete options and recheck those items you want.
  • You can also try moving to the Security tab and Advanced tab and there, click the restore defaults buttons.
  • Download and install all available Windows Security udpates.

Hotmail via Outlook Express

Did you know you can use Outlook Express for your Hotmail account?  Setup is fairly easy.  open Outlook Express and from the Tools menu, select Accounts.  Click the Add button then Mail.  Follow the prompts filling out the information and where prompted select HTTP as your Mail server then Hotmail as the provider.  If you don't see these options you probably have to update your browser version via the Windows update site. 

Warning messages

Receiving warning messages that your system is "low on resources", a "virus was detected" or other apparent "system warnings"?  These may not be generated by your computer at all but may be Internet ads!  To help distinguish Internet popups from system messages, see December 02's newsletter.   

Have Windows XP?  See September's newsletter on shutting down XP's unnecessary messenger service.

Some popups may be coming from Internet search and tool bars.  Try removing them via Control Panel's Add/Remove Programs. 

Major changes to IE

Beginning sometime this year there will be some changes to the Internet Explorer.  Apparently (and again) because Microsoft was unwilling to settle a dispute, IE will no longer support embedded objects such as: QuickTime, Macromedia Flash, Shockwave, Authorware, Java applets, Acrobat, Custom ActiveX controls and other ActiveX controls or plug-ins

What this means is sites the normally would seamlessly presented these medias within a web page may no longer work correctly.  At this time we do not know if these objects will be presented separately or if that part of the page will simply error out.  More information on this as it becomes available...

Is the Internet as we know it endangered?

The simple act of creating hyperlinks within a web page (such as this one), may be violating a patented process.  For more information and related articles:  

New Spam law

The new Federal law is now in affect.  Has it changed your inbox?

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General

File Extensions

Ever look for a specific file on a CD or in a folder only to find the same file listed multiple times? For example, you are looking for "setup.exe" but the disk may contain setup.exe, setup.ico, setup.ini and possible other "setup" files.  If Windows is hiding the file's extension, you only see the name "setup" multiple times.  Opening anything but setup.exe would not start the setup application but rather would start Notepad or may simply error out.

Viewing Extensions

To change the view so you can see those extensions:  Open the My Computer icon (the Windows Explorer), then from the Tools menu, select Folder Options.  Click to the View (tab) and you will see a list of options under "Advanced Settings".  Locate the "Hide extensions for known..." option and UNcheck it. 

Windows XP

Group Tasks

If you open multiple documents in Word, open multiple Internet sites or most any other application that could have multiple windows, XP can "group" the task buttons.

So rather than filling the task bar with individual buttons, they are stacked as shown here.
To change this option, Right click the Start menu, select Properties then the Taskbar tab.

That is where you can change the option to stack or display "similar tasks." 

Error Reporting

If you have had a problem with an application terminating abruptly XP may prompt you to "send a report."  Occasionally, sending a report actually results with helpful information, but not usually.  If you want top turn off this error reporting:  Open Control Panel then click on System.  Click the Advanced tab and then the Error-reporting button. Select Disable error reporting. 

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Stocking Up?  

Perhaps we can save you some money...

That's all for now but we will leave you with this:  

A mute wanted to buy a toothbrush, so he imitated the act of brushing his teeth. The shopkeeper understood him and handed him a toothbrush. Now if a blind man wanted to buy a pair of sunglasses, how should he express himself?

[Think first, then click here]